People urged to find out about draft Water Supply Strategy

Residents and ratepayers have just over a week left to give Council feedback on a draft Water Supply Strategy that will guide future actions needed to meet water demand and delivery of safe drinking water in the district.

 

The draft Strategy which was released for public input and comment last month (May) outlines

* why Council needs to upgrade its drinking water treatment and storage facilities
* how reducing our peak household water use could help save money
* what Council is proposing to do to meet future water supply needs
* likely costs and options for funding the required upgrades.

 

Written comments need to be returned to Council by Friday June 27. They will then be considered by Council before the final Strategy is adopted towards the end of July.

 

Mayor Rick Cooper says public input will help ensure that the Strategy contains policies and outcomes that reflect the needs and wants of residents and ratepayers. “We would like to know what you think of proposals for upgrading our drinking water standards in line with required national standards.”

 

“Our water use during peak periods is currently double that of most other districts. We can save money on upgrades by reducing our water use and want to know if you think it’s realistic to aim at halving our current water use during summer.”

 

Mr Cooper said the Strategy would guide Council during preparation of the next Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) 2009-2019 when it needed to determine timetables and budgets for proposed water treatment and storage upgrades and look at what could be done to reduce the district’s high peak water use.

 

He said people would have further opportunity to comment when the LTCCP went out for public consultation towards the end of 2008.

 

For further information and to view the draft Strategy go to www.taupo.govt.nz